Evening star. [volume], January 26, 1944, Image 19

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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WASHINGTON AND VICINITY
WASHINGTON, D. C.
_.___
SOCIETY AND GENERAL
JANUARY 26, 1944. *
i
B
15,727 Gallons
Of 'Emergency'
Gas Allotted D.C.
16 OPA Boards
To Start hardship'
Rations February 1
The District OPA today allocated
15,727 gallons from the national
quota of 3,600,000 gallons of gasoline
for distribution by the 16 local ra
tion boards during February for
Washington motorists whose lack ol
gasoline “would cause undue hard
ship."
The allocation announcement fol
lows a national OPA directive yes
terday granting local boards discre
tionary authority to issue gasoline,
subject to quota restrictions, for
"limited personal necessity.”
Charles K. Davies, acting ration
ing executive of the District OPA,
said that application for hardship
rations may be presented February
1. when the new amendment be
comes effective.
Will Decide on Merits.
The boards, he stressed, have no
lists of cases which would warrant
issuance of these rations, but must
decide each case on its own merit.
In addition, the boards have no
authority to extend their monthly
emergency quota under any circum
stances, Mr. Davies said.
The official also disclosed that
local boards were ordered to check
on the issuance of hardship rations.
The boards have been instructed to
report monthly to the District office
the number of issuances as against
its quota and also to post lists in
each board, accessible to the public,
showing the names of persons to
whom hardship rations were issued,
reason for issuance and the number
of gallons allowed.
Not Supplemental Ration.
Mr. Davies emphasized that the
hardship quota was not intended to
supplement occupational or special
rations. The new order, he said, is
designed "solely to provide a means
of relief to those persons who do not
have a sufficient amount of A gaso
line and who are without adequate
transportation to transport them to
a particular place where their pres
) ence is necessary to meet an emer
gency.”
No attempt was made, Mr. Davies
said, to define the needs of mo
torists. which will be left to the
local boards.
"After careful consideration of
each case by a board, if the board
decides a real hardship or suffering
will result from denial of the ap
plication, the board may issue the
necessary amount,” the official said.
There will be no appeal from the
board's action to the District OPA,
he added.
Board Resumes Probe
Oi Maj. Lloyd's Death
A board of investigators, appointed
to determine the cause of the death
of Maj. Calvin A. Lloyd, 55-year-old
Marine Corps officer whose body was
found in a ravine
on the Quantico
(Va.) Marine
reservation yes
terday resumed
its inquiry to
day.
N e i t her offi
cers at1 Quantico
nor at Marine
h e a d q u a rters
here had any
s t. a t e m ent to
make, and it was
said that the
board's findings
would be sent to
headquarters for Maj- Lloyd
approval before a statement was
Issued.
There was no hint whether Maj.
Lloyd, who was reported missing
from his station at Quantico De
cember 19. met with foul play or
was the victim of an accident. At
the time of his disappearance, it
was feared he might have been a
victim of amnesia. He recently had
suffered head injuries In an automo
bile accident.
Maj. Lloyd, a native of Mount
Upton, N. Y., had been a member of
the Marine Corps since 1908. He
was an expert marksman and had
coached rifle and pistol teams in in
ternational competition.
Both naval and marine officers
comprise the board of inquiry.
■ Daily Rationing
Reminders
Canned and Frozen Foods, Etc.—
Book No. 4, green stamps G, H,
and J valid through February 20.
Stamps K, L, and M will be
valid from February 1 through
March 20.
Meats, Fats, Etc. — Book No. 3,
brown stamps R, S, T and U valid
through January 29. V now valid
through February 26.
Points for Fats—Your meat dealer
will pay you two ration points for
every pound of waste kitchen fats
you turn in.
Sugar—Book No. 4. Stamp 30 valid
for 5 pounds through March 31.
Shoes—Stamp No. 18 in Book No. 1
and stamp 1 on the “airplane’’
sheet of Book No. 3 valid now for
an indefinite period.
Gasoline—No. 8 A coupons good for
3 gallons each until February 8.
B, B-l, C and C-l coupons good
for 2 gallons each. These coupons
will expire on date indicated on
individual books. B-2 and C-2
coupons in books issued since De
cember 1 are good for 5 gallons
each.
Tire Inspection Deadlines—For A
coupon holders, March 31. For B
coupon holders, February 29.
Fuel Oil—Period No. 2 coupons, valid
now, expire February 3. Period
No. 3 coupons, valid now, remain
valid through March 14. No. 2
and 3 coupons good for 10 gallons
per unit. According to the Dis
trict OPA, consumers in that area
should not have used more than
53 per cent of their total yearly
fuel oil ration as of January 24.
——.whk m «
MEMORIAL ESTABLISHED TO WILBUR JOHN CARR—Cla
rence A. Aspinwall, Garfield Hospital president, receives a check
from Lt. Comdr. Keith Merrill for a memorial room to the late
Wilbur Carr, former Assistant Secretary of State and Minister
to Czechoslovakia. The ceremonies, held yesterday afternoon
at the hospital, were attended by Mrs. Carr and representatives
of the §tate Department. The fund was raised by friends of
Mr. Carr, who at the time of his death was a member of the
Garfield Board of Directors. —Star Staff Photo.
Court Test Expected
On ICC Order to Cut
Potomac Bus Fares
Ruling Affects Thousands
Of Workers in War and
Navy Departments
A court fight appeared in the
making today in the wake of the(
Interstate Commerce Commission;
i finding ordering a new system of
|reduced trans-Potomac bus fares for;
the Capital Transit Co. and three
Virginia lines which will affect thou
sands of Government workers in
the War and Navy Departments.
The local company and Arlington
& Fairfax Motor Transportation Co.,
Washington, Virginia Maryland
Coach Co. and Alexandria, Barcroft
Washington Transit Co. have
until March 13 to place the new
fares into effect.
Meanwhile, there were indications
I that one or more of the companies
would appeal to District Court. Any
court action on an ICC finding of
(this sort must be acted on by a
; three-judge statutory tribunal.
E. D. Merrill, president of Capital
Transit, asserted that while he had
not had time to discuss the order in
detail with company counsel, "at
first sight it appears to me to be
something w'hich we must test in
the courts.”
Three-Point Ruling.
Virtually all of the recommenda
tions made by the War and Navy1
Departments during hearings last1
summer were granted in yesterday's:
report, including the suggestion that!
for fare purposes, the Pentagon!
Building be considered in the Dis
trict. The ICC ruled:
1. That the Capital Transit Co.
extend its regular local fare <10
cent cash, weekly pass and tokens),
I including transfer privileges, to and
t from all points served by the com-1
pany in the District to and from
the Pentagon Building. At present,
the company operates a shuttle serv
ice which costs 5 cents cash after
use of token, pass or transfer.'
Straight cash fare without prior use'
of local facilities is 15 cents.
2. The Virginia lines may con
tinue charging 10 cents cash fare
to the Pentagon. Navy Annex. Army
Air Forces Annex or National Air
port, but they shall institute be
tween their Washington terminals
and the installations served tokens
selling three for 25 cents—the same
as the District token fare. The Com
mission failed, however, to recom
mend here a system of passes as
suggested during the hearings.
3. That all companies shall insti
tute joint fares, calling for a 12
ticket book to sell at $1.60, which
would be equivalent to 13Va cents.
The book would be used for multi
ple trips to the area and would be
good on any of the lines.
Seven of 10 Concur.
The report found seven members
of the commission concurring, two
dissenting in full and one dissent
ing in part. It was noted that Com
missioner William Patterson, who
presided at the lengthy hearings
which opened August 18, was one
of two commission members who
; registered a full dissent.
ill 13-page xepuri, me COmmiS- ;
sion declared, among other things,
that it had authority under the
Interstate Commerce Act to pre
scribe fares between points in the
District and the areas involved.
In this connection, it observed:
"The transit company (Capital) i
is not now, although it may have j
been in the past, a street electric;
passenger railway in the usual j
sense of that term. It conducts bus!
operations throughout the District i
and in adjacent territory, and the
total mileage operated by its buses i
and streetcars is about the same.”
Business Area Extension.
Claiming that the nearby Gov
ernment buildings were to all in
tents and purposes an extension
o£ the main business area of Wash
ington, the report declared:
“This is urban mass transporta
tion between points in the District
and points in Virginia just beyond
the District-Virginia line and is
the same in all essential charac
teristics as the transportation be
tween residential areas of the Dis
tzict and commercial and Govern
ment establishments in the Dis
trict.”
Commissioner Patterson held that
the ICC was without jurisdiction
over any transportation performed
by the Capital Transit and that it
was further without jurisdiction to
prescribe a level of single-line or
Joint-line fares dependent on the
purchase of moce than one ticket or
token at a time.
Jewish Group to Meet
Plans for meeting its expanding
activities will be discussed by mem
bers of the Arlington Jewish Com
munity Center at a meeting Sunday
evening at the Colonial Village Ball
room, North Troy street and Wilson
I boulevard, Harold C. Wilkenfeld,
' president, announced today.
»
-t
Two More Celebrities
Due Here Saturday
For Birthday Balls
Joan Fontaine and
Brian Aherne to Join
Other Stars at Parties
Joan Fontaine and Brian Aherne,
Hollywood stars who are Mr. and
Mrs. off the screen, are the latest
celebrities announced for appearance
at the Presi
dent’s Birthday
Balls at Wash
ington's six lead
ing hotels Sat
urday night.
With Jinx Fal
kenburg, former
tennis star, and
Orchestra Lead
ed Guy Lombar
do. they will join
with other pic
ture stars in the
city-wide festiv
ities to raise
money for the
benefit of the Jo»n FonU,n*
Infantile Paralysis Fund.
Red Skelton, John Garfield. Lu
cille Ball, Brian Donlevy, Walter
Pidgeon, Maria Montez, Jose Iturbi.
the pianist-conductor, and others
yet to be announced, will arrive here
Friday and will be guests of Com
missioner John Russell Young at a
special broadcast from the District
Building in the afternoon. x
Mayflower winner scneauiea.
After a dinner in their honor at
the Mayflower Hotel the same
evening, they will make personal
appearances at the Earle, Capitol
and Howard
Theaters, where
gala midnight
shows for the
benefit of the
fund are sched
uled.
Saturday night
the Lombardo
Royal Canadians
tflll play at the
dinner dance at
the Statler
Hotel, and the
other stars will
make the rounds
of birthday balls
greeting merry- Brian Ahtrne.
makers at the Shoreham. Mayflower.
Statler. Wardman Park. Washington
and Willard Hotels. Tickets for all
dances are on sale at all the hotels
participating, while seats for the
midnight shows may be obtained at
any Loew or Warner Bros.’ Theaters
in the Metropolitan Area.
Junior Balls Friday Night.
Junior Birthday Balls will be held
Friday night under the sponsorship
of the Boys’ Club of Washington, it
was announced today, with proceeds
going to the Mile o’ Dimes fund.
Midget Co-Ed Club members, 10 to
13 years old. will dance from 8:30
to 9:30 o’clock at the clubhouse at
Seventeenth street and Massachu
setts avenue S.E. at an admission
charge of 10 cents. From 9:30 to
11 >30 o'clock intermediate and senior
member will take over. Music for
the party, at which an admission
charge of 25 cents will be made, will
be furnished by Rae Scott’s all-girl
orchestra.
The Georgetown branch of the
Boys’ Club will hold their Birthday
Ball at the clubhouse, 2726 Penn
sylvania avenue N.W., from 8 to
11:30 o'clock the same night.
Motorman Held for Court
In Death of Army Chaplain
Walter S. Huff, 52, of 1352 Ken
yon street N.W, a Capital Transit
motorman, was ordered held for
Municipal Court action under the
Negligent Homicide Act after an
inquest yesterday into the death of
Lt. Henry Goody, 27, Fort Belvoir
chaplain, in an accident on Octo
ber 19.
The fatality occurred at Four
teenth and Upshur streets N.W.,
when a northbound streetcar oper
ated by Huff collided with Lt.
Goody’s automobile, going east on
Upshur street.
Mrs. Reba Goody, 23, the chap
lain’s wife, is still in Walter Reed
Hospital recovering from injuries
received in the accident.
In another inquest the coroner’s
jury exonerated Charles G. Tolson,
52, of 1825 M street N.E., in the
death of Seaman Layton R. Lowery,
37, of 1239 Twelfth street N.W., at
tached to the Naval Barracks here.
Seaman Lowery was fatally injured
by Mr. Tolson's car at Twelfth
street and Massachusetts avenue
N.W. late Saturday night.
Dr. P. C. Jett Elected
• PRINCE FREDERICK, Md., Jan.
26 (Special).—The Calvert County
Medical Society has elected Dr. Page
C. Jett president. Other officers are:
Vice president, Dr. George J.
Weems: secretiry, Dr. Everard Bris
coe, and treasurer, Dr. I. N. King.
Public Housing
Projects Here
Placed on Sale
Bids Requested on
Eight Developments
Costing $53,000,000
Fairlington. McLean Gardens and
six other public housing develop
ments in the District area—built at
a cost of approximately $53,000,000
to house 4,922 families and 2,624 sin
gle persons—were offered for sale
today by the Defense Home Corp„
as a step toward the agency’s liqui
dation.
At the same time, the DHC placed
on the market 17 other properties
located in 13 States and built at a
cost of $18,000,000.
Herbert Emmerich, DHC president
and commissioner of the Federal
Public Housing Authority, explained
the action was “to take the Govern
ment out of a war emergency enter
prise that is comparable to private
endeavor in the character of its
properties and management.”
The local properties involved, in
addition to Fairlington and McLean
Gardens, are:
Naylor Gardens, Naylor road and
Thirtieth street S.E.. 748 apart
ments: completed last July; esti
mated cost, $6,800,000.
Residence Hall Listed.
Meridian Hill Hotel, Sixteenth and
Euclid streets N.W., residence hall
for 720 women; completed July,
1942; estimated cost, $1,815,000.
Lucy Diggs Slowe Hall, 1919 Third
street N.W., residence hall for 322
colored women; completed last Jan
uary; estimated cost, $800,000.
George W. Carver Hall, 211 Elm
street N.W., residence hall for 206
colored men; completed last April;
estimated cost, $650,000.
Twelve experimental balloon or
igloo type houses in Falls Church,
Va.; estimated cost, $91,000.
Fairlington Is Huge.
Fairlington, ‘major item in the
block of DHC real estate, is a tre
mendous development in Fairfax
and Arlington Counties. It includes
3,442 apartments and, when com
pleted, in about 90 days, will have
cost approximately $32,000,000.
McLean Gardens, Thirtv-eighth
and Porter streets N.W., includes
720 apartments, opened for occu
pancy last July, and residence halls
for 1,376 single men and women,
completed last September. The
total cost was approximately $11,
106.000.
The DHC emphasized that all the
developments, while built to accom
modate the influx of defense and
war workers, were designed a» per
manent community developments.
As such, they are distinct from tem
porary war housing, which is to be
removed soon after the end of the
war.
No Prices Set.
The permanent character of the
properties and the rent levels charged
led to the decision to place them on
the market, the DHC pointed out.
No sale price was set on any of
the developments. Any offers will
be considered, and the sale will be
made if the price and terms of pay
ment are satisfactory, the agency
said. Purchase offers must include
guarantees that occupancy will be
restricted to essential workers dur
ing the war.
A National Housing Agency
spokesman said it has not befen de
cided whether attempts will be made
to sell the properties for enough to
cover the full development cost. He
pointed out, however, that the sale
“won't be exactly bargain counter."
A spokesman for the DHC, which is
a unit of NHA, said it was hoped
the sale price would cover “100 per
cent of the cast." He added that
although it was too early for any
definite offers, he had received
"plenty of telephone calls already"
from persons inquiring about the
properties.
The 75-acre McLean Gardens site
includes 90.000 square feet of unde
veloped street frontage, zoned for
commercial purposes. This probably
will be sold as part of the develop
ment, although no definite decision
has been reached, it was said.
Occupants Favored.
In the case of the 12 igloo-type
houses in Fairfax County, as well
as individual houses in other States,
the present occupants will be given
first opportunity to buy, unless the
development is sold ift its entirety,
the NHA said. Apartments and resi
dence halls will be sold only as com
plete developments.
Rents cannot arbitrarily be raised
or present occupants forced to move,
regardless of the ownership, because
the properties come under Office of
Price Administration and District
rent control regulations, the NHA
spokesman said.
In effect contending that the
properties can be operated success
fully by private management, Mr.
Emmerich pointed out that the
DHC has been operating “more or
less like a private management com
pany.” It has maintained rents that
meet operating expenses, including
interest and amortization of the
financing loans, and has made pay
ments equal to full taxes, he said.
Women Voters to Meet
The Montgomery County League
of Women Voters Stabilization
Committee will meet at 11 a.m. Fri
day at the Chevy Chase Methodist
Church it was announced today.
The committee will study ways of
improving buying habits.
BONDS SOLD AT COMMUNITY RALLY—Participating in the Fourth War Loan Bond rally last
night at the Colony Theater, 4935 Georgia avenue N.W., were (left to right, front): Joseph
Walker, past commander .of the Fort Stevens American Legion. Post 32; Bess Blafkin, volunteer
bond seller; Sidney Hoffman, chairman of Caravan Area No. 6. and Dick Reger of Civilian De
fense, who bought the first bond. Joseph Mirabello (left, back) and Charles Berry form the
color guard. (War Bond story on page A-2.) —Star Staff Photos.
Oehmann, Retired,
Returns to District
Post February 1
Had Been on Active Duty
As Colonel of Engineers
Since Early in 1941
Col. John W. Oehmann, who since
early in 1941 has been on active
duty with the Army Engineers, will;
return to his $6,500 post as District
building inspec
tor February 1,
it was reported
today. Col. Oeh
mann was re
tired from the
Army because
he had passed
the age limit of
64.
Acting Inspec
tor Robert H.
Davis will re
sume his former
position as dep
uty inspector, a
post he held for
some time be- Coi.^o*hm»nn.
fore taking the temporary job.
Col. Oehmann, who was a mem
ber of the District National Guard
for years before being called to ac-'
tive Army service, had held the
post of District building inspector
for 17 years. During his tenure,
it is estimated he handled about,
$400,000,000 in municipal construc
tion during the years of Washing
ton’s rapid expansion after the last
war.
Col. Oehmann began his service
with the District in 1908 as an em
ploye of the Water Department.
Before that he was employed as an
engineer and designer of struc
tural steel and ornamental iron
work at Phoebus, Va.
He is a graduate of Business
High School and, after private tu
toring, took a special two-year
course at George Washington Uni
versity.
William H. Turton, 76,
District Builder, Dies
William H. Turton. 76. Washing
ton builder for more than half a
century, died yesterday at his home,
6318 Maple avenue. Chevy Chase,
Md., after a long illness.
A native of Washington. Mr.
Turton 54 years ago took over the
construction business which his
father, the late James E. Turton.
originated around 1820. He built
and remodeled many well-known
homes here, among them the pres
ent Villa Mercy, occupied by the
Sisters of Mercy.
Mr. Turton had been married 53
years to the former Margaret Lo
retta Niland, who survives him.
He was a member of the Washing
ton Board of Trade and of Our
Ladv of Lourdes Church in Bethes
da, Md.
In addition to his widow he is
survived by three sons William I.
Turton; Henry Gloyd Turton who
will carry on the building firm, and
James Malcolm Turton, and two
grandchildren. Henry Gloyd Turton,
jr„ and Dorothy Marie Turton.
Funeral services will be held at
9:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Pumphrey
funeral home in Bethesda, and mass
will be said at Our Lady of Lourdes
Church at 10 a.m. Burial will be in
Glenwood Cemetery.
Burglars Steal
< Infant's First
Birthday Cakes
Two birthday cakes, which were
to have graced the table at today’s
party for the year-old baby of The
Star's real estate editor, Fred H.
Morhart, jr., were part of the loot
of thieves who broke into the
kitchen of his home, at 1354 Jonquil
street N.W., early this morning.
The thieves stole the makings of
a complete meal—also taking a can
of noodle soup, a smoked shoulder
and a loaf of bread—plus a cloth on
which to spread it.
Bogus Detective Fools Police,
But Not Suspicious Cabbie
A colored man Impersonating a
detective put his head right into
the lion’s mouth last night, so to
speak, and almost got away with it.
He walked into the Women’s Bu
reau with a woman "prisoner” in
tow, swaggered up to Policeman
Dennis P. Manning, on duty there,
and introduced himself as "De
tective Sergt. Ashe of the 13th pre
cinct,” it was charged in Municipal
Court this morning, when he was
held for the grand jury for imper
sonating an officer.
Policeman Manning testified that
the psuedo detective. Jack Watkins,
43, colored, of 341 Elm street N.W.,
entered the bureau last night with
the %oman and, posing as a mem
ber of the Police Department, made
inquiries concerning arrests during
the night.
■f
Displaying mixed emotions of em
barrassment and anger, Policeman
Manning admitted that he had
courteously obliged “the sergeant”
with the requested information.
Watkins, he said, then departed,
taking the woman with him.
Police reluctantly admitted today
that Watkins might have gotten
away with the impersonation had
not the driver of a cab which he
hailed to take him and the woman
to his home become suspicious and
notified police.
When police arrived at Watkins’
house, the woman told them that he
had “airested” her on a morals
charge earlier in the evening. On
her complaint, he also was charged
with assault. A jury trial on the
latter charge was scheduled for
February 10 In Municipal Court
i
$17,853 More Allocated
To War Fund Agencies
Additional allocations totaling
$17,853 were approve^ yesterday by
the Community War Fund’s Execu
tive Committee for agencies whose
services have been increased be
cause of wartime conditions.
The Salvation Army will receive
$5,600, the National Catholic Com
munity Service, $5,400, and the
Metropolitan Police Boys’ Club
$6,853. The allotments, recommend
ed last week by the fund's com
mittee on admissions and budgets,
will be drawn from the contingency
fund. ,
Draft Aid Center
Details Announced; !
Opening to Be Tuesday
Meeting Is Scheduled
For Monday Night
To Launch Project
Details of the operation of the
new Draft Aid Center were an
nounced today as invitations to the
mass meeting launching the center
went into the mail.
The mass meeting will be held at
8 pm. Monday in the United States'
Chamber of Commerce Building,
and the center itself will open the
next day at. the United States In
formation Center, Fourteenth street
and Pennsylvania avenue N.W.
The Steering Committee for the
center, a free service to the fam
ilies of prospective servicemen, de
cided yesterday to keep the center
open from 11 am. to 9 p.m., with
three volunteers on duty at all
times.
Backing up the volunteers, it was
announced, will be a staff of three
professional consultants who will be
on call to handle problems too diffi
cult for the volunteers. The con
sultants are Mrs. Hazel Frederick
son, Mrs. James Brunot and Mrs.
Joseph Blandi.
When questions cannot be an
swered at the center and wives of
servicemen have to be referred else
where, it was announced, they will
be given a referral card telling them
where to go and whom to see.
The Steering Committee also an
nounced that the War Housing
Center had assisted in making up
a special housing file for the Draft
Aid Center. In this file will be kept
the names of women anxious to
share their homes with the families
of other servicemen, and the names
of those who want to move in.
The share-the-home arrangement
is consideeed one of the methods
by which wives of drafted men with
children can supplement their al
lotment checks.
Civic Groups Oppose
Liquor Application
Forest Hills and Wilson
School Bodies Protest
Representatives of the Forest Hills
Citizens’ Association and the Home
School Association of Woodrow Wil
son High School appeared before the
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
today to protest granting a liquor
license to Kongnan’s Chinese-Amer
ican Restaurant at 4469 Connecti
cut avenue.
They hold granting of the license
would lower the residential value of
the community and that it would be
undesirable to have liquor served in
an area near schools and near the
Chevy Chase Ice Palace, which they
said is frequented by youths and
servicemen.
Mrs. Leslie B. Wright of the Wood
row Wilson Association told the
board that while she felt that the
restaurant was conducted in an
orderly fashion, she was afraid the
serving of liquor would prove a
"temptation” to minors. It was
brought out, however, that the Board
of Education had not protested the
granting of the license.
Among those opposing the license
on behauf of the citizens’ association
were E. L. Springer, its president;
C. A. Burmeister, former president,
and Dr. George C. Havenner, veteran
civic worker who served four terms
as president of the Federation of
Citizens’ Associations. Dr. Havenner
said he objected to granting of a
license to any restaurant in the.
neighborhood.
Joseph Kaufmann, attorney for
the license applicant, Mrs. Mary H.
Wong, tried to bring out in his
questioning that it was against the
law to serve to minors and unfair
to assume that such regulations
would be violated.
Veterinarian gained
Special Dispatch to The Star.
MANASSAS, Va., Jan. 26.—Dr.
Theodore O. Dpwning, Petersburg,
has been named to succeed Dr. E. S.
Johnson as State veterinarian for
this section with headquarters here.
Dr. Downing is an alumnus of VPI
md the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Johnson, who xhas been here for
several years, left this week for
Rushville, Ind„ where he will enter
private practice.
A
Lt. James E. Pierce
And Pvt. Marshall
Killed in Europe
Co-Pilot of Bomber
Died in Bremen Raid
On November 13
Second Lt. James E. Pierce, 26. co
pilot of a B-17 bomber, was killed
during a raid over Bremen. Ger
many, November 13, the War De
partment announced today. Fifteen
Allied bombers failed to return from
that mission.
It also was U
Mr. and Mrs.
Robert M. Mar
shall, 6112 Sev
enth street N.W.,
have been noti
fied by the War
Department that
their son, Pvt.
Robert McCleary
Marshall, jr., 21,
was killed in ac
tion in Italy on
December 30.
Lt. Pierce was
reported missing
November 26. He
is the husband
Df Mrs, Clela I. Pvt. R. M. Marshall.
Pierce, 359 Orange street S.E.. a
civilian employe of the Army Air
Forces in Washington.
A native of Quincy. 111., Lt. Pierce
formerly was employed bv the War
Department in the District. He en
tered the Army Air Forces in April.
1942. and had been serving overseas
since last July.
Pvt. Marshall was employed at
Walter Reed Hospital before, his
enlistment in May. 1942. He went
overseas as a member of a medical
battalion in April of last year and
was in the landing at Salerno. He
was married last February to the
former Marguerite Clinton of Brock
ton. Mass. Pvt. Marshall attended
Roosevelt High School.
Besides his parents and his widow,
he is survived by a brother, George
L. Marshall of Arlington, and a sis
ter. Mrs. Charles F. Ricci of Wash
ington.
Memorial services will be held at
11:15 a m. Sunday at the Albright
Memorial Church. Fourth and Rit-I
tenhouse streets N.W. Pvt. Marshall,
was the first overseas casualty of;
the church honor roll of 104 serv
icemen.
Victim of Robbery
Spots Holdup Man
Detectives of the robbery squad
were questioning Irving Preblube in
his jewelry store at 1826 Seventh
street N.W. last night, trying to ob
tain a closer description of a colored
man who held him up last week
when the jeweler suddenly shouted:
"There he goes! That marine across
the street!”
Detective Sergts. J. H. Hunt and
R. E. Talbot chased and apprehend
ed a colored marine sergeant who
gave his name as William M. Smith,
19, of 1837 Seventh street N.W., when
booked on a charge of robbery. Po
lice said he also was wanted by Navy
authorities for having overstayed
his leave from the Marine base at
New River, N. C.
According to police. Smith, who
was in uniform when arrested, en
tered the jewelry store January 18
clad in civilian clothes and a mili
tary field jacket and threatened Mr.
Preblube with a revolver. He de
manded a tray of watches from a
showcase, thrust them into a paper
bag and fled.
Investigating the robbery, police
discovered most of the loot in a
downtown pawn shop, where the
watches had been sold for $4 apiece.
They have been recovered.
Smith, after arraignment on the
robbery charge, was turned over to
military authorities, police an
nounced.
Prince William Soldjer
Killed in South Pacific
Special Dispatch to The Star.
MANASSAS, Va., Jan. 26.—Roy
Mitchell Patterson, son of Mr. and
Mrs. William Patterson of Bethel.
Prince William County, died January
4 from wounds received in the battle
of Bougainville, according to word
received by his parents from the War
Department.
Mr. Mitchell, who was born near
Woodbridge, had lived in the county
until he was inducted in 1942. Be
sides his parents, he is survived by
four sisters, Misses Ada, Marjorie
and Elsie Patterson, Woodbridge, and
Mrs. Clarence Davis, Dumfries.
Save This Newspaper
Many paper mills are shut
ting down for lack of waste
paper to convert into cartons
for Army and Navy supplies
shipped overseas. Every pound
of old newspapers and maga
zines is needed. Telephone your
nearest school or notify some
school child in your block to
have your paper picked up.
f
Dr. Cake Delays
Resignation at
Gallinger
Won't Leave Patients;
Dispute Over Guffey
Letters Continues
The “Guffey letters” still held the
limelight in the long-drawn-out Dis
trict health row today, while in an
other development, Dr. Charles P.
Cake, tuberculosis ward chief at Gal
linger Hospital, decided to hold off
on his resignation so patients might
not lack care. Dr. Cake’s dismissal
was demanded by a Senate investi
gating committee last fall and ha
disclosed yesterday that his resig
nation had been submitted.
In the wake of charges and coun
ter charges, further developments
are expected late in the week on
the unsettled question of how pho
tostat copies of two letters of Sen
ator Guffey, Democrat, of Pennsyl
vania, concerning the assignment
of his personal physician to District
health work, had become public.
Letters Called Confidential.
The contents of the letters con
cerning Dr. Eugene de Savitsch. one
addressed to Commissioner John
Russell Young and the other to
Commissioner Guy Mason, were
brought to light Monday by Mrs.
Ruth Buchanan, one of the city's
most active civic workers.
Senator Guffey issued a statement
in which he said the letters were re
leased “from the confidential files of
the District Commissioners by Com
missioner Mason.”
Mr. Mason, however, followed this
with an explanation that the letters
had been photostated, without the
consent and knowledge of the Com
missioners, by Health Officer George
C. Ruhland, and added that contents
had been given out by Mrs. Bu
chanan.
A
Denies Ruhlanfl to Blame.
Advised of Commissioner Mason's
statement, Mrs. Buchanan retorted,
"I deny most emphatically that Dr.
Ruhland had anything.to do with
my knowledge of the letters.”
Mr. Mason said the office stamps
on the two Guffey letters showed
that they had been received by the
Commissioners and forwarded to the
Health Department. He said that
when Dr. Ruhland was asked about
the photostatic copies, the health
officer admitted he was responsible
for their reproduction.
When Mr. Mason was asked if his
remarks about Dr. Ruhland's part
in the episode constituted a repri
mand, he replied: "Put your own
construction on it.”
After a conference of more than
an hour yesterday afternoon, at
Which Dr. Ruhland was present,
Mr. Mason would make no com
ment on what had been discussed
and Dr. Ruhland declined to talk
about the photostating of the let
ters.
Date Back to July. 1942.
The letters of Senator Guffey,
dating back to July and December,
1942. concerned the assignment of
Dr. de Savitsch for hospital work.
The city heads have declined to re
lease any portion of the files on
the De Savitsch matter.
Mr. Mason left the city last night
on a long-planned trip to visit his
wife on her birthday in North
Carolina, where she has been for
several months because of ill health.
Commissioner Young said no fur
ther statements would be forthcom
ing on the Health Department until
Mr. Mason returned Friday. The
department is one of those under
Mr. Mason.
Chairman McCarran or the Sen
ate District Committee said he be
lieved publication of the Guffey let
ters. which criticized Dr. Ruhland.
should not have any influence on
the committee as to its actions on
the Gallinger investigation report.
“Won’t Affect Situation.”
"I believe it should not affect the
situation one iota,” he declared,
adding that this was applicable to
either side of the issue about
ousters. He said he regarded the
Guffey letters as “irrevelant, in
competent and immaterial" so far
as the Gallinger investigation re
port was concerned.
Senator Bushfield, Republican of
South Dakota, a member of the
Gallinger investigating group, said
he had recently seen a copy of the
Guffey letters but would make no
comment on them.
As to the ouster recommendations
in the report. Senator Bushfield
said: “Speaking for myself, I ex
pect to press for action, either
adoption or rejection."
Statement Issued.
In a formal statement on his
resignation, issued last night, Dr.
Cake stated:
“On Monday, January 24, I pre
sented my resignation from the
position of chief medical officer of
the tuberculosis division of Gallin
ger Hospital, effective April 25, ft44.
Availing myself of accumulated an
nual leave, this meant that I would
leave the hospital on February 1.
The acting superintendent of the
hospital, Dr. D. L. Seckinger. and
Commissioners Mason and Kutz re
quested that I reconsider this ac
tion, but in the circumstances, I
feel that to be inadvisable. How
ever, at the request of the Com
missioners. I have agreed to con
tinue at the hospital temporarily
as my departure would leave no one
to care for the 215 patients in the
tuberculosis division.”
Doctors Threaten to Quit.''
Earlier in the day, Commissioner
Mason had stated that doctors were
‘threatening to quit” Gallinger be
cause of the attitude of the Senate
District Committee, particularly
aver Dr. Cake and Dr. Joseph Gil
bert, head of psychiatry at the in
stitution.
In discussing his meeting Mon
day with the Senate District Com
mittee. which is considering the
subcommittee report demanding the
•emoval of Mr. Mason. Dr. Ruhland
ind Dr. Gilbert, Mr. Mason said no
igreement was made with the com
mittee except to ‘see that Gallinger
Hospital was made to function “as
it should,” and that a copy of the
report of three doctors investigat
ng the psychiatric ward would be
;urned over to them when ready.
The doctors investigating the
yard are Dr. Winfred Overholser,
lead of St. Elizabeth's; Dr. Samuel
W. Hamilton, of the Public Health
3ervice, and Dr. Frederick Parson*
if New York.